Lisa Kirk Wiese

Analysis of barriers to cognitive screening in rural populations in the United States.

There is scant research regarding barriers to cognitive screening in rural US populations. This is surprising when there is evidence of the importance of preventative health behaviors such as memory screening that can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimers disease and decrease in associated costs. A systematic review of published research revealed modifiable barriers to screening such as lack of knowledge and lack of knowledgeable providers to screen. Recommendations for diminishing barriers include the use of storytellers to provide culturally relevant education and informing practitioners of new Medicare coverage for cognitive screening.

Annual Cognitive Assessment for Older Adults: Update for Nurses.

Alzheimer’s disease is predicted to bankrupt Medicare by 2050 if current trends in disease prevalence do not change (Alzheimer’s Association, 2012). Earlier diagnosis and access to health care for Alzheimer’s disease result in decreased health care costs (Brosch & Matthews, 2014). Consequently, in January 2011 screening for cognitive impairment became a component of the annual wellness visit (AWV) outlined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Many community health nurses are unaware of this benefit. This article includes a review of the updated 2011 definition of Alzheimer’s disease, the components of the AWV, and tools for conducting cognitive assessment.

Assessment of Basic Knowledge About Alzheimer's Disease Among Older Rural Residents: A Pilot Test of a New Measure

Background and Purpose: Underserved rural populations face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet studies investigating AD knowledge in this population are lacking. The purpose of this research was to develop an AD basic knowledge measure that is appropriate for use with underserved populations. Method: A content domain map, content validity index, and cognitive interviews were used in developing the first version of the basic knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease (BKAD; Study 1). Reliability and validity of the measure in this descriptive study were examined using Rasch modeling and tests for construct, concurrent, and discriminate validity (Study 2). Multiple regression was employed to examine AD knowledge predictors. Results: Findings included that the BKAD instrument discriminated well between persons with varied education levels. Psychometric analysis yielded important information to guide revision of the BKAD measure. Conclusion: The BKAD measure shows promise in meeting the need for a culturally relevant measure to assess basic Alzheimer’s disease knowledge in underserved rural populations.